Episode: 2 Air Date: March 6th, 2025
Former journalist and local news advocate Steven Waldman spoke with Central Current Executive Director Maximilian Eyle about policies that could strengthen regional newsrooms.
Waldman argued tax credits and other government subsidies can play an ethical and effective role in reversing the decline of local reporting. Waldman and Eyle discussed the New York State Local Journalism Sustainability Act and the ways in which local news investments can help repair a fractured information landscape while saving taxpayers money.
Waldman founded Rebuild Local News. He is the president of the organization. Waldman also co-founded Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in newsrooms across the United States. Before becoming an advocate for local journalism, Waldman was a journalist covering national politics for Newsweek, U.S. News and World Reports and Washington Monthly. He has also been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and the Washington Post, among other publications. Later, while serving as Senior Adviser to the Chairman of the FCC, Waldman authored a report outlining the information needs of communities.
Editor’s Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current’s editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity.
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